There’s a python on the loose in South Carolina, and it was spotted on the stairs of a local high school on Monday evening.
This massive python was found near Mid-Carolina High School. An animal enthusiast named Warren Galman and his family banded together to capture the creature.
“We pulled the python out of the grass where it was hiding, and it took three of us to safely contain it,” Galman shared. He described the struggle, saying, “I weigh about 220 pounds, but it pulled me into the grass. It was really strong, and I ended up with some cuts on my arm,” he told News19.
Reports of this beast, estimated to be around 12 feet long and weighing approximately 140 pounds, began surfacing a few weeks prior. After seeing a social media post about its sighting just two miles from his home, Galman decided to take action with his son, nephew, and neighbor.
After about 15 minutes of effort, they found it near a railway intersection. The excitement was palpable, with Galman exclaiming, “Damn, he’s strong! Are you pulling, or is he doing it? This is awful!”
Eventually, they secured the python in a large container and took it home, where it became a bit of a neighborhood highlight.
The python had likely been roaming for weeks, leading officials to suspect it was someone’s pet that had either escaped or been abandoned.
Galman’s son already owned a pet ball python and was prepared to help care for this newly captured snake.
The Newbury County Sheriff, Lee Foster, expressed gratitude to the family for their bravery. “Warren, you and your friends are very brave and great Americans,” he mentioned in a Facebook post.
He noted that this type of snake isn’t native to the area, indicating that it had likely been released by a previous owner.
Sean Foley, a curator at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, has expertise on such snakes. He remarked that it’s not uncommon for owners to release them once they become too large, explaining, “A lot of people buy these when they’re smaller and think they can manage them, but they can grow over 15 feet.”
According to Zoo Atlanta, the reticulated python is the longest snake species globally, with some specimens reaching nearly 30 feet.
These snakes are known for their power, often killing prey by wrapping around it and squeezing. Galman noted that the python he captured was large enough to pose a threat to pets or even small children.
“It can definitely cause some harm,” he remarked. While he has been seeking a suitable place for the python in various zoos, he hasn’t had much luck yet but plans to continue his search.
